by Freddie Mendoza

Give Dr. Keith Winking and Dr. James Polk a cigar. They somehow convinced Southwest Texas State University to send their top jazz combo to the two largest jazz festivals in the world. I was fortunate enough to participate, and it was quite an experience.

We started at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Den Hague, the capital of Holland. The North Sea Jazz Festival is a three day event that takes place in a building called the Congress. Normally their house of government, this state house's many rooms were transformed into mini concert halls, where I saw the greatest jazz musicians alive today. Thousands of people of all ages would pour into the building over the three days, from young children to the elderly, to see the legends play. It was nice to see young children come to appreciate jazz music. The Kenny Barron Trio would be in one room while Betty Carter was in another. You could go and see Oscar Peterson, Branford Marsalis, Oscar de Leon, or maybe Chick Corea. They had a variety of styles, including bands like The Rippingtons, Santana, George Benson, even Parliament Funkadelic with Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, and Bernie Worrell. There were at least a hundred other groups, to many to name, performing throughout the glorious festival I was in heaven.

We then went to the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The Montreaux Festival is spread out into several locations, all located off a boardwalk which follows alongside the immense Lake Geneva. Again there were too many jazz greats to mention, and thousands of people to cheer on the fabulous music. The city of Montreaux is an incredible sight to behold. It sits at the foot of the Swiss Alps, right on the coast of Lake Geneva, which itself is bordered by the Swiss Alps that tower into the sky and disappear among the clouds.

he jazz combo, which included myself, Elias Haslanger, Frederick and Shiela Sanders, Aurthur Latin, Jeff Bota, Ephraigm Owens, and Edwin Livingston, played a total of five times, and was well received. The crowds were attentive, responsive, and at the end very encouraging. They combo played well, inspired by the great performances, beautiful surroundings, andan appreciative audience. Everybody came away with something they didn't have before. It was a learning experience. I would recommend to those jazz aficionados who find themselves with the means to experience a trip to Europe to see these two festivals. I'm already looking for a way to go back next year. Peace.